REDDITCH MP Rachel Maclean has revealed she was operated on by disgraced breast surgeon Ian Paterson.
Mrs Maclean said she’d had a lump removed over ten years ago and said she now questions if the operation was necessary.
Her comments came as an independent inquiry into Paterson’s malpractice recommended the recall of the 11,000 patients he treated to be reviewed and assessed and concluded that a culture of avoidance and denial had allowed Paterson to carry out botched and unnecessary operations on hundreds of women.
Mrs Maclean said: “I’m not speaking out over concerns for myself, but because of the thousands of women, and men, who have been much more seriously affected by Ian Paterson than I have.
Disgraced surgeon Ian Paterson.
“When I was made aware of the full extent of his malpractice, I believed I had a responsibility as a Member of Parliament to do what I could on behalf of the victims of his shocking actions.
“I’m in a position as an MP where I can work with Ministers to ensure the Inquiry’s recommendations are implemented in full by the Government. To that end, I have already been in touch with the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, and Health Minister, Nadine Dorries, who have been incredibly supportive.
“The Health Minister has said she is committed to studying the recommendations of the Inquiry’s report and will do everything she can to improve patient safety.
“The report makes clear this was a systematic failure of the healthcare and patient safety system.
“A man who was meant to make people better abused his power and the failure of the system allowed this heinous criminal to get away with it for far too long. We must ensure that this never happens again.
“Lastly, I’d like to thank everyone for their very kind well wishes and messages of support. I am fine, but please spare a thought for those whose lives will never be the same again because of Paterson’s crimes.”
